New eyeball in space peers toward Earth

Weather forecasting, disaster relief will be improved with technology

China's most advanced weather satellite officially began operating 36,000 kilometers above the earth on Monday, greatly improving the country's capabilities in weather forecasting, environmental monitoring and disaster prevention and relief. It is also expected to help China's response to climate change.

The 5.4-metric-ton Fengyun 4A, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, lifted off on Dec 11 atop a Long March 3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province.